A Conversation for Those Standing at the
Intersection of Faith and Mental Health |
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December 2020 found those of us doing street outreach coming to the realization that our unhoused neighbors would be stuck outside in an impending pandemic winter. Access Services put out an appeal to the community for essential gear to help our neighbors survive the cold months outdoors. The response was an outpouring of generosity; we were able to equip people with essential survival gear and clothing. One of the most important items was socks, and not just any socks, merino wool socks that were designed for long hours in cold temps. We gave out over 500 pairs of them during that winter. It was a great relief effort in a time of crisis, and it was an example of how the community can come together to address a community need.
With the widescale relief effort came a growing awareness of the scope of the issue, and the real impact living unhoused had on those struggling to survive. In his book “Just Mercy”, Bryan Stevenson says that proximity changes the narrative. When homelessness has a name, a face, and a story, we begin to see ourselves as part of both the struggle and the solution. As the cold weather eased and we paused both to reflect and take stock, a pastor who had led his congregation in a winter clothing drive said to me, “How many socks?” He went on to say that his church was happy to give out socks and would continue to do so, but that they were also clear socks don’t lead directly to housing. They wanted to be part of the solution.
Which brings us to…December 2024. We are still in crisis, although it has shifted; it is no longer driven by a pandemic. Instead, it is due to a sharp increase in the number of people living outside. In Montgomery County, for example, there has been a 300% increase in 3 years. This is driven by housing costs spiraling out of control. Montgomery County has the 3rd highest eviction rate in the state. People are losing their housing in our communities at a record rate.
As I’m writing this, 11 days out of the past 2 weeks have been under Code Blue Declaration. It’s shaping up to be a long, cold winter, and relief is desperately needed. And. Also. We need to come together to solve for housing in creative and collaborative ways.
There is something for everyone to do: - Follow the Intersect Community Needs Portal. It has current needs that folks living outside have and that the community can directly meet.
- Connect with one of the local Code Blue Shelters. There are many different ways to support that lifesaving work.
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And stay tuned. In the Spring of 2025, we will be launching a public discussion about ways to move forward in local communities to create housing options that people can pay for sustainably. Healthy, strong communities take care of each other
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Mark Boorse, Director of Community Development & Intersect Trainer |
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| Support Groups for Mental Health and Wellness Support Groups for Mental Health and Wellness (Room 112) and Family Members/Caregivers (Room 114) are offered at Souderton Mennonite Church on Thursdays from 7-8pm. Participants support each other by listening, caring, and sharing as we process our own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. All are welcome! No formal diagnosis necessary. Use the entrance facing West St. and look for signs.
Questions are welcome and can be sent to Joshua at jaj7337@gmail.com or Monica at mamamonica7899@gmail.com. |
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Equipping for Life at the Intersection
A Faith & Mental Health Summit What are the challenges in talking about and taking care of the mental health of our communities, churches, and ourselves? How can we do better? Let’s talk about it! Save the Date! February 22nd from 8 - 12 pm Upper Perkiomen Community Church
258 Main Street
East Greenville, PA 18041 Registration information to come! |
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| Find Information about Code Blue Shelters in Your Area
Our team put together a map of all the code blue shelters in the Bucks and Montgomery counties. Click on the button below to go to the Google map compilation. You can find information about each shelter and how to volunteer or donate to the work being done in our communities. |
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Better Together: How Faith Communities, Providers and Government Can Collaborate to Promote Wellness
Course Description: Seeking the common good of our communities requires working together across sectors. While it’s easy for faith communities and human service providers to be siloed off from each other, promising opportunities exist for a better way. This workshop will provide skills and strategies for enhancing cross sector collaboration amongst faith communities, human service providers and local government. Course Objectives 1. Improve skills and knowledge in developing community-based partnerships that promote the common good. 2. Identity how to cast a vision for a collaborative effort among community partners.
3. Discover what different community partners are able to uniquely offer the community. 4. Learn what is required to successfully lead a cross-sector collaborative effort. 5. Gain knowledge around how to sustain a collaborative effort over time.
Target Audience: Faith leaders, faith community members, social workers, mental health professionals, human service administrators, concerned citizens, and local governmental officials.
if you're interested in hosting this workshop at your faith community or organization, you can contact Dave Eckert at deckert@accessservices.org |
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Looking for a way to help those in your community? |
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| Intersect Care Portal
The Intersect Care Portal recognizes the need that all individuals have to be, and feel, safe and secure. For a hearty quality of life, sometimes it is an item that brings safety or comfort. Over the past year, the Intersect Care Portal has been able to connect those we serve with a wheelchair, mattress, bike, kitchen chairs, loveseat, dresser, hanging rack with hangers for clothes, and a Bible to name a few. Most often, these items are donated by someone who wants their gently-used item to go to good use.
Driver's Needed!
While it is often possible to match the need with an available item, the challenge we often face is transporting the item from the donor to the recipient! If you or someone you know has a truck or a van and a little time, we would love to add you to a list of volunteers willing to help with loading and transporting donations.
Please contact Juli Apple at intersectneeds@accessservices.org if this is a way you would like to support the Intersect Care Portal!
Join the Care Portal to learn more about the needs of the people we serve at Access! |
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Intersect Donation Page
Intersect now has their own donation page on the Access Services website. Any donations can be designated to specific aspects of Intersect.
Funds will be used to: - Offer consultation to ministry leaders and mental health professionals
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Empower faith communities and mental health providers with trainings on faith and mental health
- Provide spiritual support and collaboration between faith communities and human service providers
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- When we understand the fact that the crisis of homelessness is directly tied to the housing crisis, how does the statement, “everyone needs a safe place to sleep” land with you?
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Is it a firm bottom line that we are responsible as a community to provide for?
- Is it a true statement, but one that has some disclaimers?
- Who do you think should be addressing this crisis need that impacts all of us?
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Do you have something to contribute or a question to ask? |
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| Intersect is brought to you by: |
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